Machine for twisting fence-wire



H; N. FRENTRESS I MACHINE FOR TWISTING FENCE WIRE. o. 244,579.

' Patented Ju1y"19, 1881.

FlGml V G, made hollow in order to permit the coiling-reel.

' UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

HENRY N. FRENTRESS, OF DUNLEITH, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR TWISTING FENCE-WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent" No. 244,579, dated July 19, 1881.

Application filed March 24,1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY N. FRENTRESS, of Dunleith, in the county of Jo Daviess and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Twisting Fence-Wire, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure lis a top or plan view of the machine, and Fig. 2 is a section thereof on the line was, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate the same part in both figures.

In said drawings,A A A representthe upright pieces of the frame-work, connected at their lower part by the string-timbers B and carrying at their upper ends the cross-timbers (J G 0 This construction of frame-work leaves a clear space at D and another at D. In the first-named clearspace D is journaled a revolving frame-work, E, which carries the The revolution of this frame-work E is what produces the twist in the wires, and said revolution is effected by means of the pulley F, secured to ahollow shaft, G, journaled in the timbers O and fixed rigidly to the timbers of the framework E. At the other end said frame E is supported by a hollow shaft, twisted wires to pass to the reel centrally. Within said revolving frame E are placed transversely to its own axis two shafts, H H, one of which,

H, carries the coiling-reel J and a band-pulley, h, and the other of which, H carries a bandpulley, h, and a bevel-gear. wheel, K. The two band-pulleys are connected by a band, L, and

the gear-wheel K meshes with astationary pinion, M, supported from the cross-timbers G by an arm or stationary shaft, N. which projects through the hollow shaft G. By this construction, it will be perceived, the revolution of the frame E to cause the twist in the wires will, by causing the gear-wheel K to travel around the pinion, also cause the coiling-reehby means of the band L, to wind up the wire as fast as it is twisted.

In order that there may be an equal twist throughout all the wire operated upon, I provide a feeding mechanism which is geared to the twisting mechanism and moves alwayswith a speed having a fixed ratio to the speed of the twisting mechanism. This feeding mechanism consists of aseries of pulleys,P P, one for each strand of wire. If more than two strands are to be twisted, the number of pulleys is to be increased to accord therewith. The strand of wire shown at a a is passed completely around the pulley once, and from thence is led through the'hollow shaft G to the coiling-reel. To causethe pulley to take a firm hold of the strand and render slipping of the wire upon the pulley impossible, I'apply above each pulley a small rider-wheel, Q,held down upon the pulley and upon the wire thereon by a weight, R, or,in lieu thereof, by a spring. The shaft 1), which carries these feed-pulleys P, is provided at one end with a pinion, S, which engages bevel-gear wheel T on the shaft t, which also carries a band-wheel, U, whence a band, V, is led to a pulley, W, on the hollow shaft G. If this gearing and connection has been followed, it will'be understood that the revolution of the twister-frame E is carried to thefeeder-pulleys P, which are thus caused to turn in a certain ratio to the speed of the twister, and thus to feed the wire in proportion as it is twisted, the result of which isthat the twisting is even throughout all of the wire twisted.

Of course as the coiling-reel becomes filled with wire it tends to take on the wire faster by reason of its increased diameter, and as this would tend to defeat the object sought-the regular twist-I arrange that it shall be compensated for by making the band L, which drives the coiling-reel, sufficientlyloose to slip somewhat when the reel grows larger with the wire coiled thereon. This band will slip, because the feed-wheels will not let the wire through anyfaster than the given ratio of speed.

' The clear space D in the frame alluded to above is left for the purpose of allowing an the barbs upon the wire, which barbs m are subsequently secured by the twisting of the wire. In case an automatic contrivance is employed for placing the barbs upon the wire, in lieu of an attendant, it may be placed in this space.

I claimattendant to stand or sit therein and string 1. Thecoinbination of the revolvingframe E, each strand of the cable, mechanism whereby 1o hollow shafts G G, pinion M, gear-wheel K, said pulleys are connected to the twister, so as shafts H H, pulleys h h, band L, coiling-reel to revolve at afixed speed relative thereto, and J, feed-pulleys P, rider-Wheels Q, shaft 1), pinthe weighted rider-wheels, one for each pulley,

5 ion S, gear-wheel T, shaft t, band-wheels U W, substantially as set forth.

and band V, substantially as specified. HENRY N. FRENTRESS.

2. In a machine for twisting fence-cables, Witnesses:

the combination, with the twisting-frame car- R. E. ()DELL.

rying the spool, of the pulleys P P, one for l O. S. BURT. 

